Auto Execs Flew to DC on Private Jets to Ask for $25BN Bailout
•November 20, 2008 • 1 CommentSome lawmakers lashed out at the CEOs of the Big Three auto companies Wednesday for flying private jets to Washington to request taxpayer bailout money.
“There is a delicious irony in seeing private luxury jets flying into Washington, D.C., and people coming off of them with tin cups in their hand, saying that they’re going to be trimming down and streamlining their businesses,” Rep. Gary Ackerman, D-New York, told the chief executive officers of Ford, Chrysler and General Motors at a hearing of the House Financial Services Committee.
“It’s almost like seeing a guy show up at the soup kitchen in high hat and tuxedo. It kind of makes you a little bit suspicious.”
He added, “couldn’t you all have downgraded to first class or jet-pooled or something here? It would have sent a message that you get it.”
The behavior of CEOs in charge of American corporations nowadays is beyond belief. I am not saying that as hyperbole, I really mean that. Business has evolved to the point that they think they do not have to be careful stewards of manufacturing or financial business, that they are not the ultimate caretakers of their industry and their shareholders investment. We hold the bag. We must make good on the greed and avarice. They get to live the life of an oil sheik. Gold faucets, silk sheets and hot tubs. The kind of life that only kings used to live and they need do nothing for this gilded life. The make the mistakes, we get the cleanup. We get the responsibility, they get the high life.
A Short Tour of President Elect Obama’s Homes
•November 19, 2008 • 1 Comment
Chicago
CHICAGO: The Obama’s present home at 5046 S. Greenwood Ave., in an affluent part of South Side Chicago, is probably the only place you can’t visit. A security perimeter now surrounds the home’s entire block.
Wasington, D.C.
WASHINGTON DC: The security will be even tighter at his next home - 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. in Washington, D.C.
Thanksgiving in Atlanta
•November 18, 2008 • No CommentsThe holiday season is upon us with Thanksgiving kicking off the season. Normally this northern transplant to the south has a difficult time getting in the spirit of the season. The holiday season is normally cold, with possibly snow on Thanksgiving. In the south it is not always like that, it can be warm enough some Thanksgivings to drive around with the convertible top down, and sunscreen on, but not this year. This year it is cold, which is putting me in the mood for the season, so in Atlanta we have our traditions.
The High Museum of Art rolls out a spectacular exhibit, this year it is the Chinese Terracotta Army, which I plan on seeing.
Of course, there is the annual lighting of the tree held in Buckhead that is topped off with a fireworks display.
However, my favorite part of Thanksgiving is seeing the president pardon a turkey. This is President Bush’s last Thanksgiving and I am wondering which turkey he will pardon.
I just love the start of the holidays.
Obama Has More Threats Than Any Presidents Elect
•November 15, 2008 • No CommentsThreats against a new president historically spike right after an election, but from Maine to Idaho law enforcement officials are seeing more against Barack Obama than ever before. The Secret Service would not comment or provide the number of cases they are investigating. But since the Nov. 4 election, law enforcement officials have seen more potentially threatening writings, Internet postings and other activity directed at Obama than has been seen with any past president-elect, said officials aware of the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity because the issue of a president’s security is so sensitive.
Earlier this week, the Secret Service looked into the case of a sign posted on a tree in Vay, Idaho, with Obama’s name and the offer of a “free public hanging.” In North Carolina, civil rights officials complained of threatening racist graffiti targeting Obama found in a tunnel near the North Carolina State University campus.
And in a Maine convenience store, an Associated Press reporter saw a sign inviting customers to join a betting pool on when Obama might fall victim to an assassin. The sign solicited $1 entries into “The Osama Obama Shotgun Pool,” saying the money would go to the person picking the date closest to when Obama was attacked. “Let’s hope we have a winner,” said the sign, since taken down.
Racially tinged graffiti — not necessarily directed at Obama — also has emerged in numerous reports across the nation since Election Day, prompting at least one news conference by a local chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in Georgia.
During the election beginning with the primaries and on to the general election I had received numerous urban legend e-mails about Barack Obama, more than any other presidential candidate than ever before. All of the e-mails were clearly an attempt to smear and slander Obama’s character, with many designed to enflame people. Most of the time I simply deleted them, but they reminded me of McCarthyism, as well as, propaganda on the level of Joseph Goebbels. One of the e-mails I received was so vicious that it prompted me to call the person who sent me the e-mail and ask that person not send me anymore e-mails. The video contained in the e-mail was riddled with so much hate, rhetoric, and propaganda that it reminded me of how the Nazi’s gained power in 1930’s Germany.
While the general election waged the McCain Palin ticket often times enflamed people at their rallies with claims of “palling around with domestic terrorists”, and “socialism” including other language often working the crowd into a mob state where shouts of “terrorist” and “Marxist” could be heard, even signs of “Marxist” were present at some rallies.
Since then the McCarthyist red baiting has not let up from one Georgia Congress, Paul Braun, with comments carried on FOX News without full explanation of the story, which adds to the ongoing McCarthyist smear campaign against president elect Barack Obama.
At one point during the general election I recall hearing from more than one person that they feared for Barack Obama’s life, more than any other presidential candidate and president elect before him. Clearly, our concerns were well founded, given the level of visceral anger leveled at Obama. However, what went unspoken was how that would affect Americans who are black or bi-racial. It appears there is hate filled spill over for them also.
This is utterly disgusting, despicable, and contemptible. We are all Americans and we deserve to live free, free from intimidation, free from fear, and free from attacks based on race.
